Jason Robards is a man who decides he'd rather be a tree.Jason Robards is a man who decides he'd rather be a tree.Jason Robards is a man who decides he'd rather be a tree.
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- TriviaBased on the following Broadway production: Mr. Sycamore (1942). Comedy. Written by Ketti Frings, based on a story by Robert Ayre. Scenic Design by Samuel Leve. Costume Design by Emeline Roche. Directed by Lester Vail. Guild Theatre: 13 Nov 1942- 28 Nov 1942 (19 performances). Cast: Stuart Erwin (as "John Gwilt") [Broadway debut], Lillian Gish (as "Jane Gwilt"), Enid Markey (as "Estelle Benlow"), Walter F. Appler, Harry Bellaver (as "Mr. Fink"), Albert Bergh (as "Mr. Oikle"), Helen Brown, Russell Collins (as "Reverand Doctor Doody"), Barbara Dale, Helen Dodson, Jed Dooley, Franklyn Fox (as "Fletcher Pingpank"), Kenneth Hayden, Mary Heckart, Pearl Herzog (as "Daisy Staines"), Otto Hulett, Ray J. Largay, Louise McBride, Peggy Opdycke, John Philliber (as "Abner Coote"), Rupert Pole (as "Third Milkman/People of Smeed"), Leona Powers, Harry Sheppard, Buddy Swan (as "Albert Fernfield"), Ernest Theiss, Harry Townes, Albert Vees. Produced by The Theatre Guild (Theresa Helburn, Lawrence Langner: Administrative Directors). Note: this was one of the biggest flops of the 1942 season.
- ConnectionsReferenced in 10 to Midnight (1983)
Featured review
"If you step into that hole, I will never speak to you again!"
Flop Broadway play from 1942 becomes unsuccessful movie, though one not without some eccentric charm. Small town postman, who writes poetry and talks to the trees along his mail route, chucks his job one afternoon to become a tree himself. Fascinated with metamorphosis, as well as by an ancient legend that had lovers being turned into trees by the gods, our hero digs a hole in his backyard and promptly plants himself, much to the concern of his wife, his clergy and neighbors (one of whom tells him to beware of boll weevils!). Playwright Ketti Frings, who co-adapted her play with director Pancho Kohner from a story by Robert Ayre, is obviously in love with absurdist comedy, and some of her early scenes do get laughs; however, this is short subject material, not a feature film. Kohner attempts to stretch the plot out with a needless milk truck chase and asides with sanitarium workers, to no avail. Good cast including Jason Robards, Sandy Dennis, Jean Simmons, and a snarky Robert Easton nearly makes it tolerable. *1/2 from ****
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- moonspinner55
- Apr 3, 2023
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